TEl WATBR.GOLOUR SOCIETIRS.
There cannot be two opinions, we imagine, as to which of the Water- Colour Societies makes the best appearance this year. The elder body fur- nishes one of the most even and generally satisfactory displays we ever witnessed; the younger, so far as the bulk of contributions goes, is scarcely up to its average. Nor is it only in the generality of works that the Old Society excels ; the best of the best are this year upon its walls even in figure subjects. On the other hand, after deducting the one su- preme in this class—and the reader will have no difficulty in deciding which that is when he knows that Mr. Lewis exhibits—there are in the younger body several which come near it more or less—none in the elder. The conditions of comparison remain thus much the same as ever, though the degree of superiority is more than usually pronounced. Mr. Lewis's picture is named "The Arab Scribe—Cairo" a marvel of finish, delicacy, and completeness. These qualifies are equally visible in the nationality of the figures and expressions—the eager impressiveness of the dictating lady, the bustling interposition of her Abyssinian slave, egging out her mistress's instructions with words, and look or gesture no less suggestive than words, and the quiet professiouality of the scribe,—as in the labour of the minutely scolloped pattern of the robe, the wondrous truth and study of the two cats, the butterfly's microscopic variegations, or the chequered lattice-work of the background through which the many- coloured bazaar and the expectant looker-in are visible with a distinct- ness blurred, as in nature, upon close approach. An over-addiction to body colours, and something of streakiness in the plain surfaces entailed by excessive -finish, are the sole blemishes we can point out; and we sum up all the excellences of the work in the strongest terms when we say that it yields in no respect, according to its means, to the " Hhareem " of two years ago.
The "Stag-hunt in the Time of George II." has considerable motion easily expressed, and is altogether one of Mr. Frederick Tayier's best productions. The other figure-exhibitors here most worthy of remark are Mr. Haag, the disagreeable mannerism of whose colour is in some in- stances (especially the female head, No. 287) almost suppressed ; Mr. Jenkins, and Mr. Gilbert.
The President de jure of the New Society, Mr. Warren, and its quasi- President de facto, Mr. llaghe, are both in excellent trim. The latter has never exhibited a work more admirable in every respect than the so- called "Audience-chamber of the Magistrates du France de Bruges— Visit of Marguerite of Austria,"—a title, by the way, whose French seems native to " Stratforde atte Bowe." The figures are all individual, the daylight irreproachable, and the sombre costumes of the hosts well contrasted with those, bright to gorgeousness, of the visiting court. Mr. Warren's "Hunchback Story-teller relating one of the Arabian Nights' Tales in a Coffeehouse of Damascus" is highly satisfactory. The shades of character and expression, from the veiled smile of the dancing- girls and the grim relaxing of feature in the foreground smoker to the broad laugh of his neighbour, and the gusto overspreading the sickly and unsupple features of the hunchback himself, are capitally discriminated; while the air and colour of the picture are also very good. Mr. Warren ha,s two other contributions—single female figures, thoroughly Oriental in aspect, and with grace and character fairly portioned between them. From Mr. Wehnert we have an illustration of Edgar POO'S thrilling poem of "The Raven," to be engraved, we presume, in the forthcoming illustrated edition of the poet's works. The raven, however, does not make his appearance : and the subject is one which sinks, unless treated with peculiar poetic grasp (by which we cannot say it is distinguished here) into the Keepsake class of presentments titled "Bereavement" or "The Widower." Every one guesses what Mr. Corbould's " Godiva" must be as a realization of Tennyson's "creeping sunbeam" ; but Miss Egerton's "Mariana in the South" allows more room for speculation. There is something in the figure's drooping want of energy which aptly indicates the absence of the motive as well as the will: and the same lady's little head of a violet-seller possesses a sweet open innocence of expression. Mr. Lee's nice rustic groups, some of Mr. Kearney's studies—varying, but never lofty, in merit—Mr. Hayes's "Aliwal," and a very skilful interior by Mr. Collingwood, (222,) call for mention on one ground or another. The well-known landscape habitues of the Old Society muster in strength. Albeit somewhat too familiar with the " poetical ' sunlights of the veteran Fielding, we are glad to find him still prolific : and yet more so when we light on so unusually good a specimen as the "View between Pont Aberglasslyn and Tan-y-bwlch " (156). The picturesque dexterity of William Callow, the marine subjects of John Callow—many of them really fine, as for instance, No. 92, with its rushing wind-driven column of rain—the quiet, precise, and generally level nature of William Turner- Duncan's solid sureness—the rich liberal variety of Naftel's Channel Island vallies and lanes—the thoroughly artistic qualities of Mr. Evans, the Associate Exhibitor, who sends two Genoese views, our delight in which would be unalloyed did not these qualities tell almost too strongly for simple truth—the enjoyable green country glimpses and fresh water of George Fripp—the nice touch and finish of Mr. W. Collingwood Smith— and the showy, attractive, and highly practised style of Richardson, in Winch, however, manufacture is too visible—are all displayed to great advantage. The last artist's "Ben Venue" is an important and full work of self-evident merits. Mr. Nash's two Exhibition-views could not be better in their way, and yield to none of those we had before seen. Perhaps the most extraordinary contributor of all is Mr. Branwhite ; whose spirit and masterly handling, telling in all his works, reach their acme in 'The Frozen Ford," which might be mistaken for an oil-picture, and is in every respect one of the artist's most complete and admirable winter- Pieces.
But the great man of the tribe is, as ever, David Cox. In his works there are power and insight enough to swamp all the others put together.
Peanmean Beach, on the Coast between Conway and Bangor," is won- derful. All dim and solemn through a kwering atmosphere loom the scattered coast rocks ; heavy masses of cloud striking across, and sheep, winding stragglingly among them. The windiness, freedom and fresh- ness of the view, " Besom-makers gathering Heath on Carrington Moss," are equally forcible. All the figures, slight as they are, have their appro- Priate and distinct character; and the boy's halloo to the remoter women is unmistakeable. Mr. Cox's method is certainly not recommendable to others; but that will be a dark day for the Water-Colour Society when ita fruits shall be no more visible upon the walls. At the junior Society no landscape pleased us so thoroughly as the a Leckhampton Church—Sunset" of Miss Fanny Steers. This lady studies harmony of colour to charming effect, which was never better dis- played than in the present instance. The tree-shadows thrown on the church, the quiet cattle and rook colony amid the grass, and the univer- sal sunset-glow, are delightful; and there is nothing in the slightness of execution to make it less than enough. Mr. Davidson is rather less green and Davidsonian than usual ; but we do not think his style gains by a modification which brings it somewhat nearer to that of Mr. Bennett; a gentleman who exhibits several nice drawings of true English character. Mr. Va.cher sends a large but not very successful work (No. 180). Mr. Penson's "Welsh Coast" has qualities which raise it beyond the common level; the "Scene on the Brathay" is Mr. Penley's best; Mr. Pidgeon's "Noon" (261) is broad in colour, and treats a well-found incident well; and Mr. M'Kewan's "Ruins of Neath Abbey" is desolately gaunt
The "Poultry Quarrel" of Mr. Weigel has ludicrous but still allow- able comicality in its dignified turkey and undaunted cock. Mrs. Mar- gotta, Mrs. Harrison, and Mrs. Harris, are excellent in flowers and still- life at the New gallery, and so is Mr. Rosenberg at the Old : but of course they all yield to Mr. Hunt, who has also a quaint head of a little village- girl. "Beautiful," "lovely," "unapproachable," "wonderful," were our jottings-down on the spot in reference to his fruits, birds, and flowers : and really that is the most competent style of criticism.
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